Some veterans are going to be furious when they read this post. But take that anger and use it wisely: Channel it into getting this turned around!

Many veterans groups SUPPORT the BAD UN Disabilities Treaty. The American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Wounded Warrior Project and the Disabled American Veterans all support this bad treaty. Why? Because they think it’ll help disabled vets abroad. The Legion also tells its members it cannot be applied against the USA:

On Thursday, July 26, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a business meeting to debate and vote on the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Though much of the treaty – which promotes rights for persons with disabilities around the globe, and promotes standardization of disability accommodations in ratifying nations – was noncontroversial, some senators expressed concerns about the possibility of the erosion of American sovereignty under its provisions. Amendments were offered and passed specifying that the United States will not be subjected to binding legal action under the treaty.

But it’s a sovereignty killer. The CRPD requires a report to foreigners – that’s unconstitutional and also could be used as a trojan horse against the rights of parents and homeschoolers due to the provision that requires the best interest of a child standard to be applied to the raising of disabled children (and if your child has a IEP, 504 plan or any other assistance from the school, your child is disabled for the purposes of this treaty) that are not being abused or neglected. The Legion’s claim that it is in effect non-binding is simply not true. Courts can be persuaded to make it’s provisions binding, just as the United States Supreme Court has used the unratified UN Child Treaty as an international law norm to strike down the death penalty for those who kill willfully and are not yet 18. Go to parentalrights.org for more information.

The VFW says this:

By voting Yes to ratify the treaty, the Senate allows the U.S. to have a much greater voice in the discussion surrounding global disability rights.

This is an invitation to meddle in the internal business of other nations.

Here’s the comprehensive list of the veteran’s organizations who have (at that time last year) supported this horrible treaty (courtesy of Senator Ayotte’s website (R-NH), who alas voted for this treaty. My readers in NH ought to let her know she should change her mind on this!) :

The following veterans service organizations have indicated their support of CRPD: AMVETS, Air Force Sergeants Association, Air Force Women Officers Associated, American GI Forum, Association of the United States Navy, Blinded Veterans Association, Disabled Americans Veterans, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Jewish War Veterans, Military Officers Association of America, National Association for Black Veterans, National Guard Association of the United States, National Military Family Association, Paralyzed Veterans of America, The American Legion, Veterans for Common Sense, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Veterans of Modern Warfare, VetsFirst (a program of United Spinal Association), Vietnam Veterans of America, and Wounded Warrior Project.

If you are a member of any of these organizations, let them know how you feel! Get your local Legion or VFW post to pass a resolution saying NO. If you give money, let them know that you want them to renounce this treaty. I am amazed that the wonderful Wounded Warrior Project is in this mess in the first place.

And, if you are disabled and a member of a disabled rights group that supports this treaty, tell them you want them to change their mind. There is evidence the vote will come this summer and it will be close.

These veterans groups are wonderful and I respect and support them. But they are dead wrong. They ought to support American sovereignty instead of vague assurances that if this treaty is ratified by the US that US vets will be treated better in other lands.

Elwood "Sandy" Sanders is a Hanover attorney who is an Appellate Procedure Consultant for Lantagne Legal Printing and has written ten scholarly legal articles. Sandy was also Virginia's first Appellate Defender and also helped bring curling in VA! (None of these titles imply any endorsement of Sanders’ views)